Castle Acre Green, Swansea, becomes a new village green
We are delighted that 2.9 acres of green space and woodland known as Castle Acre Green, Norton, in the village of Mumbles near Swansea, has been registered as a village green by the commons registration authority of the City of Swansea. This means that local people have established their legal right to continue to use…
Read MoreDismay at decision for Beverley Westwood Common
We are dismayed that the environment secretary has approved a land swap to allow a cycle track and footway to be driven across the historic Beverley Westwood Common in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The society was among the objectors at a public hearing held on 13 October. East Riding of Yorkshire Council proposed to…
Read More
Lakes and Dales park extensions will protect precious landscapes
We are overjoyed that the government has today announced that it will extend the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks, to include land which should never have been excluded, much of it common land. The environment secretary Liz Truss has confirmed the designations made by Natural England in 2012, following a public inquiry in…
Read More
We mourn the death of Michael Meacher
We are sad to learn of the death of Michael Meacher, the veteran MP for Oldham West and Royton. Michael helped to win the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, giving the public greater freedom to roam on open country and common land in England and Wales. Says Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary who…
Read MoreWe fight threat to Neatherd Moor common, Dereham, Norfolk
We have objected strongly to a planning application from Taylor Wimpey for 62 houses and associated works on land next to Neatherd Moor, an ancient common on the east side of Dereham in Norfolk. Our local correspondent, Ian Witham, has protested to Breckland Council. Says Ian: ‘We object strongly to this proposal because of the…
Read More
We fight renewed attempt to destroy Swansea commons
We have sent another strong objection to plans to build 16 wind turbines with associated infrastructure on Mynydd y Gwair and adjoining commons, eight miles north of Swansea. RWE Innogy UK Ltd has planning permission for the development but, because it is to be sited on registered common land, the developer needs the additional consent…
Read More
A visit to Ashtead Common
The Open Spaces Society has had a strong connection with the City of London Corporation all through its history, and we helped the city acquire many of its open spaces: Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest, Burnham Beeches and the Coulsdon Commons. It was therefore fitting that, as one of our 150th anniversary events, we should visit…
Read More
The Welsh consultation on access and recreation
We have responded to the Welsh Government’s consultation on ‘Improving opportunities to access the outdoors for responsible recreation’. We have welcomed the proposal for greater access rights but made it clear that this must not be at the expense of public paths. We have deplored the Welsh Government’s dismissal of the historic value of the…
Read MoreWe fight loss of Lyde Green common on Bristol’s fringe
We have objected to plans from NORFT Ltd to sacrifice Lyde Green Common near Pucklechurch, north-east of Bristol, and replace it with inferior land some distance away. NORFT has applied to the Planning Inspectorate to deregister and exchange Lyde Green. We have objected because the proposed replacement land is of inferior quality to the common…
Read More
150th anniversary of midnight raid to free Berkhamsted Common
The National Trust is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the great battle to save Berkhamsted Common, Herts. The common was freed from enclosure on the night of 6 March 1866. The National Trust is staging an exhibition and commemorative walk on its Ashridge Estate. The exhibition opens on Saturday 10 October at the visitor centre…
Read More